Conciliatory tone as top diplomats from United States and China meet
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met face-to-face for the first time this year on Thursday and Wang said they discussed ways to promote China-U.S. ties despite “recent disturbances”.
South Korea-Japan talks falter ahead of decision on favored-trade list
South Korea called on Thursday for Japan to allow more time for diplomacy as talks on their most serious dispute in years failed to make progress, a day before Japan could remove South Korea from its list of favored trade partners.
Sudan army commander says security force at a bank killed protesting children: SUNA
A top Sudanese army commander said a security force assigned to guard a bank in El-Obeid was responsible for killing protesting children in the city on Monday, the official SUNA news agency quoted him as saying on Thursday.
Houthi attack on military parade in Yemen’s Aden kills commander: sources
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it launched missile and drone attacks on Thursday on a military parade in Aden, the seat of the Saudi-backed government, killing several people including a commander.
Taiwan rebukes China for tourism ban amid rising tension
Taiwan’s president rebuked China on Thursday over its decision to ban individual travel permits for Chinese visitors to the self-ruled island, saying the move aimed to manipulate presidential elections in January.
Rouhani says ‘childish’ of U.S. to sanction Iran foreign minister Zarif
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the United States of “childish behavior” and acting out of fear on Thursday after Washington imposed sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Islamic State attacks kill seven security forces in Iraq
At least seven members of Iraq’s security forces were killed and 16 wounded overnight in two separate attacks by Islamic State militants, police said on Thursday.
Senior China diplomat says important for U.S.-China to meet face-to-face
Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, who meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday, said it was important for China and the United States to meet face-to-face and cooperate no matter how many problems may arise.
More women, disabled members make debut in Japanese parliament
Japan’s parliament opened a special session on Thursday with its most diverse upper house yet, including more women, two severely disabled members and the first openly gay male lawmaker, all of whom were elected last month.
Trump offers Putin help with Siberian wildfires: Kremlin
U.S. President Donald Trump offered his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin help in putting out vast wildfires that are raging in Siberia, the Kremlin said late on Wednesday, a move it said Putin took as a sign that battered ties can be restored.
